Beatrice Chebet wins women’s 5000m heat at World Championships in Tokyo
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 18, 2025Beatrice Chebet has won her heat of the women’s 5,000m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships on Thursday, September 18, in Tokyo.
The 25-year-old Kenyan runner finished in 14:45.59, beating Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, who crossed the line in 14:46.36, and the United States’ Shelby Houlihan in 14:46.52.
Chebet came into the 5,000m with strong form. She recently set a new world record in the event, running 13:58.06 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. The record made her the first woman in history to complete the 5,000m in under 14 minutes.
She also won Kenya’s first gold in the women’s 10,000m at the World Championships earlier in Tokyo, clocking 30:37.61. With one lap to go, she tracked Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, who had forced the pace. Chebet bided her time and then kicked hard on the final bend. That victory added to her Olympic title and world record, giving her a rare triple achievement in distance running.
Kenya aims for podium
Kenya’s team for the 5,000m includes other top athletes, such as Faith Kipyegon, the four time world champion, Agnes Ng’etich, and Margaret Ekidor.. Chebet said she values teamwork and plans to work closely with her teammates to aim for a strong finish in the final.
“We hope to cooperate well and possibly sweep the podium. Having Faith in the race motivates us all,” she said.
Faith Kipyegon and Agnes Jebet also join Beatrice Chebet in the 5000m final, ensuring Kenya will have strong contenders on the line.
Chebet’s performance shows she is a serious contender for the gold medal in the 5,000m final, scheduled for Saturday. Her recent record-breaking run and heat win give her confidence and a strong start.
With the first round over, Chebet can now focus on strategy and recovery ahead of the final. Kenya’s hopes are high, and Chebet’s strong start in Tokyo signals she is ready to deliver another memorable performance for her country.